In his latest missive to fellow pastors, he writes: "You've got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it.""As pastors, as shepherds of God's people, it's our job to protect our congregations from Satan's greatest weapon – disunity," he writes. "It's not always easy, but it's what we've been called to do..."

"...Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have been wrong? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors might teach unbiblical principles? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren no earthly pastor is the recipient of all Divine revelation? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have led entire flocks into grave error that may have eternal consequences?Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that he, too, might be capable of such mistakes?

Rick Warren makes a spiritually fatal error when he proclaims, without any biblical authority, that Satan's greatest weapon is disunity. That is simply not true. The Bible reveals over and over again that even one spirit-filled believer can stand up against Satan. God is not impressed with numbers. He doesn't need numbers for victory. He doesn't care about big churches. He doesn't care about the cathedrals of men. He wants numbers only because He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

No, Satan's greatest weapon is hardly disunity. His greatest weapon since his fall and since the Garden of Eden has been deception. In fact, Satan loves unity – as long as those unified are knowingly or unknowingly serving him. He'd love for all of us to "go to hell in a handbasket."

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

PRESIDENT BUSH: The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respective by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and President of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.

We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues... We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations, and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008.

After 138 Muslim leaders last month wrote an open letter to Christendom calling ostensibly for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, self-proclaimed Christian leaders and other celebrity Christians took the bait.

The appropriate response would have been to search their own Scriptures, to get down on their knees to beseech God to give them wisdom, to seek the counsel of others, particularly those expert on Islam, history and the persecution of the church in Muslim lands. Instead, some get-along-with-the-world Christians apologized for the past and current actions of their fellow churchmen in defending their lives and their beliefs against Islamic aggression and terror.

Among more than 100 theologians, ministry leaders and prominent pastors, signing the letter were Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church and Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

As a Christian myself, I want to make it very clear these men do not speak for me. More importantly, I do not believe they speak for Jesus.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Rick Warren has invited New Age proponent Leonard Sweet to speak at the 2008 Saddleback Small Groups Conference called Wired. The theme of the conference is "Prepare your church for spiritual growth and connectivity." Unfortunately, spiritual growth and connectivity ala Leonard Sweet could be a panentheistic, mystical dose of the New Age - and it isn't the first time Warren has found comradeship with Sweet. As Ray Yungen explains in A Time of Departing, Sweet and Warren came together in 1994 for their Tides of Change audio series. Yungen describes Warren and Sweet's relationship as well as Sweet's beliefs:

In the set, Warren and Sweet talk about "new frontiers," "changing times" and a "new spirituality" on the horizon.Later, in Sweet's 2001 book, Soul Tsunami, Warren gives an endorsement that sits on the back as well as on the front cover of the book. Of the book, Warren says:

Leonard Sweet ... suggests practical ways to communicate God's unchanging truth to our changing world.1Some of these "practical ways" include using a labyrinth and visiting a meditation center.2 Sweet also says, "It's time for a Post Modern Reformation,"3 adding that "The wind of spiritual awakening is blowing across the waters."4 He says that times are changing and you'd better "Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die."5

Sweet also states:

Mysticism, once cast to the sidelines of the Christian tradition, is now situated in postmodernist culture near the center.... In the words of one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, Jesuit philosopher of religion/dogmatist Karl Rahner, "The Christian of tomorrow will be a mystic, one who has experienced something, or he will be nothing." [Mysticism] is metaphysics arrived at through mindbody experiences. Mysticism begins in experience; it ends in theology.11

A Slice alert today as the Christian Post reports this morning that Rick Warren, Leith Anderson, the head of the National Association of Evangelicals, Bill Hybels and other evangelicals have signed a document urging Muslims to “love God” together with them and to find peace between the two religions. This is where it has all been heading, folks. You’ve been warned for a long time now that this new spirituality is coming. Here’s a quote from the article:

Christian leaders urged for an interfaith dialogue that moves beyond “polite” ecumenical talks between selected leaders. Instead, leaders of both faiths should hold dialogues to build relations that will “reshape” the two communities to “genuinely reflect our common love for God and for one another,” the Christian letter stated.“Given the deep fissures in the relations between Christians and Muslims today, the task before us is daunting. And the stakes are great. The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace,” the letter added. “If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that ‘our eternal souls’ are at stake as well.

The letter’s main emphasis is the “absolutely central” commonality between both religions: love of God and love of neighbor.Other signers of the letter include Miroslav Volf, founder and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture; Dr. Martin Accad, academic dean of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (Lebanon); Robert E. Cooley, president emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Harvey Cox, Hollis professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School; and Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church.

The letter includes an “apology” to the Muslims for various wrongs that Christians have done them.

In the Christian response, Muslims have been asked to forgive Christians for their past sins – such as the Crusades and excesses of the “war on terrors” – as taught by Jesus Christ who said to “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out your neighbor’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).

Friday, November 23, 2007

If you belong to Christ, like the apostle Paul you can and should learn the secret of a contented life. When Paul wrote “godliness with contentment is great gain” he wasn’t just speaking philosophically (1 Tim. 6:6). He had learned the secret to contentment in every circumstance of life (Phil 4:11-2). While that secret eludes most people, it need not elude any true believer. For those who are willing to learn, here are six steps to a contented life from the life and teaching of Paul.

First, learn to give thanks in all things.Second, learn to rest in God’s providence.Third, learn to be satisfied with little.Fourth, learn to live above life’s circumstances.Fifth, learn to rely on God’s power and provision.Finally, become preoccupied with the well-being of others.Read the details of Dr. MacArthur's commentary as he breaks open the Scripture to reveal the life that is truly lived more abundantly in Christ.

"Oprah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, “Oprah & Friends” will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles."

Daily lessons such as affirming that “God is in everything I see”, the repetition of the affirmation “I am the light of the world” , and teaches the student to say and believe “My salvation comes from me.”

"By the end of the year, “Oprah & Friends” listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the Course in Miracles Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is “in” everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life. The Course Workbook bluntly states: “This is a course in mind training”5 and is dedicated to “thought reversal.”

"A Course in Miracles is allegedly “new revelation” from “Jesus” This “Jesus”—who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible’s Jesus Christ—began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman. One day Schucman heard an “inner voice” stating, “This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.”8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as “Jesus.”

Listen to Warren Smith and Ingrid Schlueter connect the dots between The New Age, A Course in Miracles, Rick Warren’s theology and Robert Schuller’s upcoming "Rethink" conference. The conference centers around Schuller’s proven embrace of New Age theology. Smith’s research reveals that Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral was hosting groups that were studying the popular New Age course called, A Course in Miracles, in the 1980’s.

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5

The late Dr. Ray Stedman unfolds 1 Timothy 1 revealing that Biblical Unity is achieved through teaching Biblical Truth, which is always under attack by the enemy because of it's the power to give new life through Christ. In the opening verses of Chapter 1, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to

guard the Apostolic teaching

correct error and deception

present the Gospel that Timothy received from Paul

Timothy was sent to Ephesus to correct the false teachings and protect the pure and sound doctrine that Paul entrusted to him so that the church at Ephesus may:

be set free from the bondage of the old life, it's fleshly desires and philosophies

grow in the the newness of life by faith, through the indwelling Holy Spirit

become a vessel from which Godly love flows out to others

Dr Stedman describes why Biblical Truth must be guarded:

...faith is not merely belief. Faith is acting on the basis of facts which God has revealed. This is what the apostle is concerned about. That body of truth is unique in the world. In First Corinthians the apostle calls it that "secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification" (1 Corinthians 2:7 RSV).

It is the secret of how to release men and women from the bondage of evil of various forms in their lives and deliver them into the glorious freedom of the sons of God. That is the nature of the gospel.

It is so powerful and so radical that it is always under subtle attack both from without and within. That is why it is so necessary to ensure that the teaching is accurate and true and biblical, because, when it is, it delivers people, it frees people, it changes whole families; it has a powerful effect upon society. Jesus said that would happen: "If you continue in my word you shall be my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free," (John 8:31-32 KJV). The world desperately needs men and women who have learned how to be free in Christ Jesus, to be what God has intended men and women to be. That is what the gospel can do.

...if the truth is being taught and preached and believed, it will always result in a loving congregation. Love is our aim. Love involves activity; speculation involves the mind. Love involves persons, service, compassion, involvement, care, time. That is the way you can tell the difference. The great thrust of the gospel is to produce loving people."

The apostle now traces the course of love back to its source, its origin... Paul says, "love that issues from a pure heart," and behind that, "a good conscience," and behind that, "sincere faith." Now, to begin at the end, faith is believing what God has said about the total end of your old life and the impartation of a new life identified with the righteousness of Christ -- that is what you believe. You are a new person; you are not the same. Everything of corrective nature in Christianity is to come back to that source.

Therefore, love begins with sincere faith that the great facts of the gospel are personally true of you. You are the one who died in Christ, and rose again with him, and are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

The central task of leadership in any church is to see that the teaching is in line with the apostolic revelation, the word about Jesus -- "the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted." That is the body of teaching to which a church should give itself. There are many other subjects that are right for Christians to pursue (the Scriptures encourage us to pursue various dimensions and divisions of human knowledge), but when you come to the church there is one body of teaching, and only one.

The church exists to declare this unique body of truth. Anything that differs is not to be taught in church...It is essential that there be unity in the teaching of a church. There are differences of style that are quite permissible; there are different gifts ...The heart of truth, however, must remain unsullied, because the Scripture is the most powerful weapon the church has to correct error and to deliver people from bondage into freedom. The teaching of the truth, therefore, must be central in the ministry.

...when it comes to teaching, that teaching must be clear and straight and true, and according to the apostolic witness. That is the first thing Timothy is charged to do: Stop the teaching that is different, and oppose these wrong concepts.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

In Rick Warren's Ministry's Toolbox letter November 14, 2007, What the Bible says about handling disunity, Warren clearly illustrates that any threat to unity in a congregation is unacceptable and must be dealt with by the pastor.

Warren sets the stage by stating God blesses a unified church, and infighting is energy focused "inwards". Warren claims the Bible talks more about unity than heaven or hell. Warren does not identify any examples where disunity is Biblical.

In classic Warren style, he lists six things pastors are "called to do" when disunity threatens our church. Warren selectively cites scripture to support his six action steps.

1. Avoid situations that cause arguments. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NIV): "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments..." Certainly is wise counsel.

2. Teach troublemakers to repent2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NIV) "...As the pastor, you must gently instructthose creating dissention and opposing the teaching in the church. Warren instantly and shamelessly lumps teachings or doctrines from the pulpit into context of these verses that address foolish and stupid arguments leading to quarrels.

Warren expands the context of these verses to apply to those who exercise Biblical discernment and test the teachings of the pastor. In essence, Warren equates contending for the faith with foolish and stupid arguments. Warren categorically labels anyone who challenges the pastor's teaching as troublemakers. So if the pastor's teaching is unbiblical or presents unbiblical notions, the congregation is to remain silent because unity is paramount and the right dividing of the truth is subordinate to the body's unity?

3. Warn those causing trouble... Warren reinforces the negative social impact of challenging any teaching from the pulpit by using the word "trouble".

4. Make a plea for harmony and unity: "Fighting in a church doesn’t just affect the combatants; it influences the whole church as people start taking sides. Just like Paul did, at times, you’ll need to make a plea for unity directly to those causing problems." Now the troublemakers are promoted to fighting combatants. Warren plants the seed that the troublemakers are really enemies of the church.

5. Rebuke with authority if necessary. Warren quotes Titus 2:15-3:1, which in part states "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good... You may need to confront the contentious person as well." In the CEO model of the Purpose Driven Church, this translates out in reality as " I am the Pastor and you will do what I tell you or you can leave".

6. Remove them from the church... "at last resort you may need to remove the contentious person from the church. You’ve got to protect the unity of your church. If that means getting rid of troublemakers, do it."

Well there it is...Unity at all costs, Truth if possible. Unity trumps contending for the faith, guarding what was entrusted, fighting the good fight of faith, guarding the flock from ravenous wolves, being Bereans, testing all things, false teaching causes division for profit and gain (see verses below). In the consumer-driven church of PDL, Christians are customers and if you don't like what's being served, just leave and go somewhere else. We will help you to the door.

In perhaps the boldest statement in this letter Rick Warren makes an amazing statement:"it’s our job to protect our congregations from Satan’s greatest weapon – disunity."Satan's greatest weapon is deception, which causes disunity and division in the Scriptures, and ultimately the destruction of souls. Rick Warren's encoded message to his purpose driven pastors might read:

Do not tolerate those who resist the purpose-driven messages that I send you to grow your headcount and draw bigger crowds. Throw them out with their Bibles

"Rick Warren wrote the forward to Dan Southerland’s book entitled Transitioning; Leading Your Church Through Change. The book is designed to show pastors how to transition their traditional church into a Purpose Driven one. Rick Warren sells the book on the Purpose Driven website. Some of the chapter headings reveal how heavily it depends on the concept of vision: “Preparing for Vision; Defining Vision; Planting the Vision; Sharing the Vision; Implementing the Vision, etc.” The future Purpose Driven church is what the vision is all about. The vision includes the process of removing people who oppose becoming Purpose Driven. This book is very revealing."

19 There must, indeed, be factions among you, so that the approved among you may be recognized.

Matthew 7:15 15 "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

Luke 12:51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division...

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 20 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Galatians 2:11-14 Paul publicly corrects Peter:But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews"?

Galatians 2:4 4 [This issue arose] because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

Romans 1617I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

1 John 4 Test the Spirits 1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Peter 2 The Judgment of False Teachers 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

2 Corinthians 11:13-1513 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself is disguised as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

Colossians 2:8 8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 Timothy 1 18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Jude 1:3[ The sin and doom of Godless men ]Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Jude 1 17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit... 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Philippians 1:27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

1 Timothy 1:3[ Warning Against False Teachers ] As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer

2 Peter 2:1[ False Teachers and Their Destruction ] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

"Your own church conducts Rick Warren’s teachings and programs. So you should already know that Rick Warren has trained 400,000 pastors worldwide how to get rid of what he calls "resisters", which I have documented below and in both of my books on Rick Warren and is well known, thanks to several other books and discernment ministries around the world who have exposed him. Even some secular media such as the Wall Street Journal has rightfully sounded the alarm about Rick Warren. And it is the Southern Baptist Convention that is leading the pack in dismembering churches and destroying the brethren, thanks to Rick Warren. So your call for unity is the height of contradiction. If you are really interested in transmitting any credibility to your statements, you could begin by marking Rick Warren as a false teacher, renouncing the Personality Temperament Profiling divination you have promoted, reach out to all of the SBC members throughout the U.S, ask for their forgiveness for those who have been purpose-driven from their churches, offer restitution for their losses."

A follow up email exchange between Sundquist and Dr.Frank Page resulted in Dr. Page’s request: "Please do not send any more of your material to my staff or to me." Sundquist’s response is detailed at the Jesus Christology website with this introductory explanation by Sundquist:

"I sent the following response to SBC President Frank Page’s retaliation against me and my original appeal to him to several hundred Southern Baptist Pastor and leaders in the U.S. Not one single pastor responded with even an iota of concern for the SOS calls and emails I received from all over the world from Purpose Driven victims. Not one single SBC pastor responded with any concerns about Rick Warren’s false teachings. However, a host of them asked to be removed from my mailing list and a few dozen actually retaliated too, but NONE could refute my facts, and only one tried to reason from Scripture by saying that I was sowing discord among the brethren which the Lord hates. But I am just the messenger. It is Rick Warren who has sown discord among the brethren by attacking them as resisters and removing them from church after church through his training…a true devourer of the Lord’s sheep! And of course, NONE of them repented!"

Editor's comment from related post on October 15, 2007: The Purpose Driven and the Seeker Sensitive movements have embolded many well intended, but biblically-erred pastors to shake their own congregrations loose from the moorings of the Scriptures for the sake of numerical church growth. In that process, they have created a sea of casualties, known as the pillars and resisters.

Since Tuesday, November 14, 2007 earthquakes have been occuring in all four corners of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Not typically unusual since the majority of the world's seismic activity occurs here.

However, what is noteworthy is the increasing pattern of quake events that seem to be occuring in sets of two, three or more.

For example, a quake event off the coast of Japan seems to have a "twin" event in Chile. To watch this phenonema, click on the U.S. Geological Survey's map image above. The map lights up with quake activity around the world. Watch for the pattern of near simultaneous quake events. You can also visit the U.S. Geological Survey's recent quake page. Click on the START ANIMATION button for the recent quake activity over last seven days.

For the last several weeks, Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries has been examining the teachings of John Hagee, and Hagee's claim that Christ did not come as the Messiah of the Jews.

Do We Believe Hagee Or Do We Believe God?"...John Hagee say his book In Defense Of Israel “will shake Christian theology.” And further that, “it Scripturally proves...that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah... It will prove...Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah...”

However, God the Holy Spirit informs us in John’s eyewitness deposition we call the Gospel of John – The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I Who speak to you am He” (John 4:25-26).So whose testimony are you going to believe? Hagee or God. The Truth is that Dr. John MacArthur is correct when he says, “An individual Jew today is saved like anybody else is, by faith in Christ. And, apart from that, there is no salvation.” (Online source)Sola Dei Gloria also weighs in on this blatant heresy of Hagee here

Thursday, November 15, 2007

A growing number of well-known evangelical leaders today are teaching thousands of people that the world has a serious problem. The problem they describe is not what you might expect to hear, especially from evangelical leaders. They believe that those who claim Jesus is coming back soon and that the Earth will face a horrible Armageddon or judgment are actually the cause of the world's major problems and are prohibiting a time of great renewal from taking place. Talk of biblical end-time prophecy is considered by these men to be unnecessary and downright dangerous.

Tony Campolo in his recent book, Speaking My Mind suggests that these types of end-time thinkers are even the cause of wars. He says, "Their doctrines are a major factor in determining a far-ranging set of consequences that include American policies regarding militarism, the emergence of evangelical Zionism, attitudes toward Palestinians and the role of American geopolitics." (p. 207) He later says their "impact on geopolitics can only lead to war." (p. 215).

Rick Warren suggests that Jesus doesn't want us to even think about prophecy or His return. Warren tells us that it is none of our business. He tells us that thinking about Jesus' return is a ploy by Satan to get us distracted. (PDL, pp. 285, 286)

In this timely article form Pulpit Magazine, Phil Johnson takes a look back to The Flaws of a Fad-Driven Church. Johnson describes the similiarities of today's evangelical church and the days of the medieval church.

The medieval church was overrun with superstition and ignorance. We’ve got people reciting the prayer of Jabez every day who are convinced that it’s a magic formula that will bring them wealth and good luck...

The medieval church saw a decline in doctrine and morality in the church and a corresponding increase in corruption, scandal, and man-centered worship. All of that is true today."

Johnson cites how the seminaries of yesteryear and today suffer ignorance of the Bible.

Many seminaries are deliberately eliminating biblical and theological courses and replacing them with courses in business and marketing. And Christian leaders who call themselves evangelical are actually encouraging these trends.

Listen, for example, to Tony Campolo, arguing that today’s evangelical seminary students need to be taught marketing savvy rather than theology and Scripture. This is from a book he co-authored with Brian McLaren, ironically titled Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel. Yet Campolo himself has missed the point. He is actually arguing that church leaders should follow the culture and study marketing techniques rather than theology. And he suggests this would be a good thing.

Campolo writes:"What if the credits eaten up by subjects seminarians seldom if ever use after graduation were instead devoted to more subjects they will actually need in churches—like business and marketing courses? It is not true that with a gifted preacher, a church will inevitably grow. Good sermons may get visitors to stay once they come, but getting folks to come in the first place [will] take some marketing expertise.

It was a marketing degree, not an M. Div., that Bill Hybels had when he launched the tiny fellowship that would one day be Willow Creek Community Church. It’s not that Hybels is a theological lightweight, [but he’s “brilliantly relevant”]—and the relevance comes not from giftedness or theological discernment, but from thoughtfully studying his congregation. As any good marketer would, Hybels deliberately surveys his people with questionnaires in order to determine what they worry about, what their needs are, what’s important to them. . . . Then he schedules what subjects he will preach on in the coming year, and circulates the schedule to those on his team responsible for music and drama in the services."

Pastors these days are carefully indoctrinated with the notion that they must regard their people as consumers. Religion is carefully packaged to appeal to the consumers’ demands. There are marketing agencies that offer seminars for church leaders to teach them how to “brand” their churches to appeal to the most people. Most church leaders these days are therefore obsessed with opinion polls, public relations, salesmanship, merchandizing, and customer satisfaction. They have been taught and encouraged to think that way by virtually every popular program of the past two decades.

Compolo's description of an evangelical:"...an evangelical has a very high view of scripture though not necessarily inerrancy"

Campolo's relative, ecumenical spiritual truth:"I think there are Muslim brothers and sisters who are willing to say, "You live up to the truth as you understand it. I will live up to the truth as I understand it, and we will leave it up to God on judgment day." There is much in Christianity that would suggest exactly the same thing"

Campolo on salvation:I've got to believe that Jesus is the only Savior but being a Christian is not the only way to be saved.

Campolo's "saved by good works" doctrine:"...what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, "But he hasn't a personal relationship with Christ." I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it."

Campolo on unity by mystical spirituality:"...in the hour of suffering there is a commonality. And that's where we meet. It's in mystical spirituality and in communal mutuality that's where we come together...In a mystical relationship with God, there is a coming together of people where theology is left behind and in this spirituality they found a commonality...if we are looking for common ground, can we find it in mystical spirituality, even if we cannot theologically agree, Can we pray together in such a way that we connect with a God that transcends our theological differences?" Campolo advocates faith communities that serve each other for the betterment of mankind. These faith communities acknowledge each other's respective doctrinal paths to heaven. Contemplative mystical experiences enhances the ecumenical relationships that are forged in the fire of of the mind, and not by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Compolo denies the absolute truth of the Bible, and the very God he believes he is serving.

"a call to partner with God in the work of overcoming evil with good and a promise that through this shared labor, good will ultimately prevail. This gospel message interacts powerfully with all the major issues of our day, including war, poverty, climate change, race, homosexuality, health care, gender, and others... a new kind of community in which we can discover The Other (individuals or groups other than those we belong to), deepen our personal and corporate journeys, and together participate in repairing the world.

In this endeavor we will honor and learn from teachings, practices, and suffering of people from religions, philosophies, and worldviews, different from our own. Instead of isolating ourselves into like-minded groups or melting together into a single-minded organization, we will learn to live together with our differences and in a way that contributes to the wellbeing, peace, joy, and justice in the world. In this endeavor we will always be a courageous, hospitable and learning community."

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Last October, Emory University of Methodist roots, installed "His Holiness", the Dalai Lama, as a distinguished professor . The New York Times quoted Robert Paul, the college dean:

“One of the great things about the Methodist tradition is they don’t insist that everybody has to be Methodist,” ...“His Holiness is a religious figure who is not dogmatic, not sectarian, doesn’t advocate ‘My way or the highway.”The head of Tibetan Buddhism will reportedly meet with The Pope on December 13 , 2007 (Photo credit CNA).

"The Georgetown meditation session was flanked by two readings: one from a Chinese text called "Tao-Ching," the other by the late Benedictine priest, Father John Main...his efforts to spread Christian meditative practices have been observed this year with different programs across North America."

In the video below, Tony Campolo ( of Eastern University) explains how St. Ignatius coined the term "centering prayer". Campolo describes how he practices centering prayer..." push everything out of your mind ...allow Christ to invade you". Campolo gets "full of the Holy Spirit that way"...

Listen to Campolo describe how the Holy Spirit "is in you before you became a Christian" (unlike being dead in your trespasses) and "Christ indwells all, saved and unsaved."

The guest speaker, Rev. Zelda Kennedy, an Episcopal priestess, spoke on the ordination of Rev. Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire. In a May 27 sermon, “Working with the Spirit,” Kennedy praised All Saints’ priestess Susan Russell for speaking out against those who opposed the consecration of Robinson because he is homosexual.

In a 2006 television interview, Kennedy responded to those within the church who are against homosexuality, “And that’s so sad, because I don’t believe that’s what Jesus had in mind.”

The retreat center also offers “Mystics of Peace: Sacred Expressions of Chant and Music...experience the healing power of sound through chants and sacred music.”

The Center teaches chants from various religious traditions. "Share our sacred expressions of music, art, poetry and dance. Speakers and clergy from western and eastern religious traditions will join us and engage in meaningful dialogues as we also share our own stories.”

The advertisement invites all “to participate or just sit back and enjoy the divine energies created from the blending of sacred music and poetry, spiritual teachings and dance from around the world.”

See how mysticism, purpose-driven ecumenism and the emergent church movement are beating a path back to Rome.Editor's note: Catholics may be surprised to find that Evangelicals are offering the same mystical practices to their congregations all in the name of the Gospel. The mysticism, dialogue and individual story-telling adds a certain Emergent flavor to the mix.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

In this piece from The New Times, An Unlikely Megachurch Lesson, we find that leaders of the Jewish faith have sought out Rick Warren's wisdom and techniques for congregation building since 1995.

"This has not been a studiously balanced bit of ecumenicism. Synagogue 3000, the group led by Mr. Wolfson, an education professor, and Rabbi Hoffman, a scholar of liturgy, went to the church to figure out what evangelical Christians were doing right that Jews were doing wrong or not at all...To put it bluntly, Mr. Wolfson said, if there are thousands of people waiting to get in, I want to know what’s going on. I want to know what they’re doing that’s tapping those souls.”Significant to note that some of the Jewish leaders actually compared Warren's position on homosexuality to Scriptures...

"When Mr. Warren conducted his workshop for Synagogue 3000’s leaders in 2005, several participants challenged his view of homosexuality as abnormal and unbiblical. “Every faith has its own parameters,” Mr. Warren responded, calmly and firmly, in an exchange preserved on a DVD of the session. “You can’t believe it all.” (emphasis mine)

Mr. Wolfson said, "The story doesn’t get across that Judaism is a way to find meaning and purpose in your life. And that’s another lesson I’ve learned from the evangelical model.”Rick Warren continues to prove that his consumer-driven religion is omni-denominational. Which is the very reason why the purpose-driven model and the thousands of churches intoxicated by it, is unbiblical.

Scott Bass of the Richmond Style Weekly takes a look at church marketing in his piece, The Soft Sell. Here's some highlights:

"Churches everywhere are playing a game of catch-up, attempting to digitize a message traditionally relegated to wooden pews and onionskin Bibles. Other religions may be struggling, but Western Christianity, which makes up 80 percent of the U.S. population, is the standard bearer. The U.S. economy depends on Christianity to move goods and services; the president cites religious obligation as partial justification for invading other countries; the world’s largest retailers live and die on their performance during the Christmas season, which launches on “Black Friday.”

"The Christian church is also fighting 2,000 years of bad marketing. It’s not really even marketing, but more like a gruesome threat. Essentially, “Buy this product or die, frolic in heaven’s gardens or burn in hell.” For many churches, the need for a new, easier-to-digest message has morphed into a new nondenominational Christianity. It’s emerged over the last decade or so, and it’s less threatening. Churches preach of a more congenial God, a Jesus who can be your personal trainer, your therapist, your pal at the coffee shop. "

"People are buying it. It’s a product that does more than save you from eternal damnation. It has practical applications for the here and now. Megachurches, whose congregation sizes number in the thousands, were the first to mass-market this new product. And just as big-box retailers have made mall department stores increasingly irrelevant, so too have the giant congregations and the self-help disciples hurt smaller churches, says James Twitchell, professor of English and advertising at the University of Florida and author of the recently published “Shopping for God: How Christianity Went From In Your Heart to In Your Face.”

"The number of consumers isn’t exactly increasing, so what’s left is a stagnating market, one in which churches that conform to the needs of the consumer — hence, the emergence of self-help disciples — are rewarded with new members, tithes and all-important growth."

"With the rise of the self-help gospel, popularized by the Rev. Rick Warren’s best-selling book, “A Purpose Driven Life,” evangelical Christians have shifted their message away from combating sin and hell’s fury to one of coping, of reaching full potential, of mending relationships and broken marriages.Warren’s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., has a school that’s taught nearly half a million evangelical pastors this new self-help gospel."

"The Rev. Joel Osteen, the latest star in that flock, epitomizes the what-God-can-do-for-you movement. A handsome, smiling 44-year-old, Osteen has grown his Houston-based church into the largest in the country, with 47,000 members. It includes a potluck of Methodists, Baptists — even Jews. He refers to these denominations as “walls that are coming down” and recently published his second book, a surefire best seller, “Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day.”

Watch Part II here... Willow Creek's research reveals people don't want programs, people want to be taught the Bible!

Watch Part III ...Willow Creek's research shows people want the meat of the word, people want more serious-minded scripture.

Will Willow Creek return to the Biblical "methodology" of preaching the whole counsel of God, discipling and equipping the saints? Or will Willow Creek join the next stream in the flood of man-centered religion offered by the Emergent church?

As previously noted on October 30, Comet 17P Holmes inexplicably increased its brightness by a factor of one million, going from magnitude 17 to 2 in the constellation Perseus after sunset. (Photo: Eric Allen, Quebec Canada)

The Hebrew name for Perseus is Peretz, which means the Breaker. This represents Messiah when he comes with His saints to defeat the beast in Revelation 19:11- 21. His white horse is Pegasus. Pegasus in Hebrew, Peka-Sus, means chief horse.

The comet's magnitude went from 17 to 2...interesting to note also that Genesis 17:2 and verses following speak of God's everlasting covenent with Abraham as the father of many nations and the God promises the land of Canaan to Abraham and his offspring.

Is comet Holmes a prophetic sign? That remains to be seen. However, given the upcoming "Peace" summit in November when Jerusalem probably will be "divided", the comet's behavior, timing and location is noteworthy.

"The comet was actually discovered during a similar, but less spectacular, brightening event in November 1892...Interestingly, in both the 1892 event and the recent one, the comet initially brightened about five months after reaching perihelion – its closest approach to the Sun...

It's curious that the outburst came in the same period of orbit," says Brian Marsden, former director of the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Massachusetts, US."

Friday, November 2, 2007

Nov 2nd 10:00-11:30 AMWhat Monks Can Teach Us: Helping Students Discover the Ancient Art of Listening to the Voice of God with Dave Ambrose

Is it really possible to hear God speak to you? How do you learn to listen to his voice? Is there more to this than just reading your Bible and praying more? Come and discover some new 'ancient' ways of communicating with God and discovering his plan for your life.

Applying Biblical Truth and Modern Science to Spiritual Formation You'll discover how God uses our biology and psychological make-up to transform the soul. You will find out how what we have learned about brain development impacts your ministry as you develop techniques for engaging students to have significant break throughs in spiritual formation. You will gain understanding on how to use narrative, story, and experiential exercises to see maximum impact on your students' spiritual life.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Pastor Rick Warren, presenting a keynote address at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has encouraged Christians once again to "establish the kingdom of God" here on planet earth.

Warren is well known for a three-legged stool plan designed to implement his global PEACE plan. Warren learned about such a plan from his mentor Peter Drucker, a well known consultant who promoted church growth methods focused on a market-driven Christianity.

Warren's three-legged stool plan has three legs - business, government and the church.

Establishing the kingdom of God on planet earth is one of the goals of the PEACE plan and the Purpose Driven Church. It can be documented that the purpose driven plan and the emerging church plan both have a plan to work together with people of various faiths, unifying together for a common cause. This is interesting in light of Pastor Warren's previous statements that he can work together with those of diverse faiths and beliefs such as Muslims, homosexuals and the Roman Catholics.

"...This is precisely the thinking of the church growth movement and its modern founder Robert Schuller. Schuller is famous for saying that his Crystal Cathedral is a last stop for people who had given up on religion and otherwise would have no religion.

He established his Institute for Successful Church Leadership in 1970. His website says this about his Institute: “Alumni include Bill Hybels, John Maxwell, Bishop Charles Blake, Rick Warren, Walt Kallestad, Kirbyjon Caldwell, and many, many others who found the fundamental principles of success at our sessions .... and the rest is church history!”12 He continues, “The students outran the master and I'm proud of them - and you can do it, too!”

The success that Schuller and his followers have found is the ability to get people to join the visible church without being confronted with “negative” things like the wrath of God against sin and the need for the blood atonement.

The key idea in the church growth movement founded by Robert Schuller is to maximize the visible church by using proven business marketing strategies. Forcing people into the church at sword point has been abandoned long ago. Charlemagne’s strategy is no longer viable.

Now leaders entice people into the visible church using the business model that works so well for secular corporations. These strategies include organizational models that provide focus, efficiency, outcome based feedback, and “synergy of energy.” Most important, however, is maximizing the organization’s ability to find and keep satisfied customers (people willing to join the visible church).

Please note the similarities between Emerging author/speaker Brian McLaren’s campaign and message and that of this cadre of outspoken New Spiritual/New Age teachers and leaders. Such New Age luminaries as Marianne Williamson, Dennis Kucinich and Deepak Chopra are featured on this short film, The Shift. (Note the title.) Brian McLaren’s site is called DeepShift.org. They’re all about a shift into a new paradigm.